6 ways to fight the fear that rules our world

• This isn't a post on terrorist attacks or natural disasters. While those catastrophes are fear-inducing, this article has a different purpose than to provide analysis of current events. Today I'm talking about the fear that rules your world and keeps you from being you.

• You know that little voice in your head that stops you from doing things? That's fear. And most of the time it comes because we're terrified of what other people think. Why are we so afraid of what others think? Why does fear have such a strong hold on us?

• ReadThe art of forgiveness: Getting free from anger

• Fear rules our world because of one small, sad truth: Everyone's a hater.

• Yes, you read me right: Everyone's a hater. I know you and I want to believe everyone else are haters, but the cold hard truth is that we are all in this boat together.

• Want proof? The reason why you and I can spy a hater so quickly is because we're excessively familiar with the hater inside. It's easy to spot what we know so well.

• If you're having a hard time following me, let me explain. We live in a world where no one can do anything right. We're constantly talking down on people:

• She posts too many selfies. He argues politics too much. They spend too much money. He's just showing off. She's just insecure. They just need to mind their own business. Her comment was tactless and offensive. He's a wannabe and an amateur. They are hypocrites. She's a bigot. He's too passionate. They're out of touch. And on and on and on.

• Doesn't it sound all too familiar? It's like we're all living one big "Mean Girls" reality show.

• We all are guilty of it. Judging has become a knee-jerk reaction to almost everything anyone does. It's like we've lost all of our faith in people and giving someone the benefit of the doubt is a foreign concept.

• One of the worst effects of our overly critical world is that it instills a fear of failure. It makes us afraid to do or say or be or share anything because we're afraid someone will stick their nose up at us. We act or don't act out of fear of what others will say or think. In essence, it causes fear to rule the world.

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• Read7 things you should be thinking about every night before bed

• So what's the solution? You've probably already guessed it. It is simple but takes discipline and a retraining of your brain:

• 1. Give people the benefit of the doubt.

• 2. Remember in the end, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

• 3. Just do you.

• 4. Stop hating on everybody.

• 5. Live and let live.

• 6. Watch Kacey Musgraves preach it better than I ever could: